Would you describe yourself as a virtuous
person? More importantly, would other people
describe you so? And most important still, would
God? What does virtue look like? How do you know
if you have it or if you don’t? Often times we
speak of virtue as a singular trait, one of our
strengths as opposed to one of our weaknesses. A
testy perfectionist might excuse himself with,
“Patience is not one of my virtues”. But
biblically speaking, virtue is something bigger
than that. Virtue includes all of a person’s
character. Thus the NASB in 2 Peter 1:5
translates the word, “moral excellence”.
William Barclay, in his commentary on James and
Peter, writes that virtue is that quality,
“which makes a man a good citizen and friend; it
is that…which makes him an expert in the
technique of living well.” The Greek word,
aręte, from which virtue is translated also
means courage. Charles Simeon wrote, “By virtue
we are not to understand that general assemblage
of graces which in modern language is associated
with that term; but courage, which is absolutely
necessary to the Christian’s welfare. A man who
will be faithful to his God, and walk worthy of
his profession, will have much to contend with,
both from without and from within: and, if he be
not endued with fortitude, he will be in danger
of yielding to discouragement, and turning back
from his profession. Even the sneers of an
ungodly world are not easy to bear: and
thousands, through the fear of them, have made
shipwreck of their faith.”
A virtuous person is someone who gives great
credibility to the gospel of Christ. Certainly
the gospel is true whether it is seen in the
lives of Christians or not. But when you have a
man or woman of virtue you have a testimony to
the power of God to work through peoples’ lives.
These are people whose fulfillment is found in
doing for others. They prepare meals for the
sick, visit the lonely and console the
brokenhearted. They will mow your lawn when you
can’t, fix your car when you don’t know how and
make you think it’s their privilege to serve.
They will visit the sick in the hospital and
console the bereaved in times of mourning. They
will be there at weddings and parties and other
happy occasions. They bless people with their
presence. They take this “weeping with those who
weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice” thing
seriously. They don’t excuse themselves with,
“That’s just not me.” They realize that life is
not just about them but others. They get out of
their comfort zones and do what they do because
Jesus loves people and since they are his, so do
they. They’ll leave it to others to argue about
who should be doing what. They just get about
doing it.
As a Christian, are you practicing this
technique of living well? Can the beauty of
Jesus be seen in you? The Bible says, “Above
all, keep loving one another earnestly, since
love covers a multitude of sins. Show
hospitality to one another without grumbling. As
each has received a gift, use it to serve one
another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of
God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the
strength that God supplies—in order that in
everything God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever
and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:8-11)
God bless you,
Brad Fry
